Colorado Department of Public Health Says Two Children Have Died from Invasive Strep Infections

The Colorado Department of Public Health is reporting two children have died and 11 other children have been sick with invasive strep infections since November.   

The 11 reported cases of invasive group A strep have all been from the Denver metro area. Cases range in age from 10 months to 6 years, but anyone of any age can get group A strep. CDPHE says that the two deaths were young children who were not yet school aged.

The last reported death in a pediatric patient with group A strep in Colorado was in 2018.

According to Public Health, Group A strep is very contagious and generally spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets and direct contact.   

State health officials said pediatric hospitalizations from the infections are rising. The group A strep infections are much more severe and can be complications of other viral respiratory illnesses like RSV, flu, or COVID-19.